Kamaruddin Panggabean dies at 80

Kamaruddin Panggabean dies at 80

JAKARTA (JP): Noted national sports figure Kamaruddin
Panggabean died of respiratory problems on Wednesday. He was 80.

He was buried at his home town of Sarbelawan, 120 kilometers
east of the North Sumatra capital of Medan, in a funeral attended
by hundreds of mourners on Thursday, Antara reported.

Footballers of PSMS Medan, a team which Kamaruddin founded,
were among the tearful attendants.

Kamaruddin died after undergoing several days of medical
treatment at the Graha Medika Hospital in Kebon Jeruk, West
Jakarta.

Born in Tarutung on Nov. 18, 1918, he is survived by a wife
and 10 children. His extended family also includes 20
grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Before his death, Kamaruddin told his children he wished to be
buried in Sarbelawan.

Kamaruddin is known as a reputed sports figure with a number
of state credentials, including the Lencana Kenegaraan state
medal from deposed president Soeharto in 1996.

Kamaruddin had been involved in sports development both in
North Sumatra and Indonesia as a whole since 1950. He was one of
founding fathers of the Sports Organizations Coordinating Board
(KOGOR) and its replacement organization the National Sports
Council (KONI).

Widely known for his enthusiasm for soccer, Kamaruddin
initiated the Marah Halim Cup international soccer tournament in
Medan in 1972. The annual event was last held in 1988.

Apart from his managerial post with the Mercu Buana soccer
club in the 1980s, Kamaruddin also held key positions in the All
Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) and the North Sumatra sports
council.

PSSI chairman Agum Gumelar expressed his condolences on the
death of Kamaruddin, better known as Opung Kamrud. (lnt)